How to hire a vocational counselor

How to hire a vocational counselor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step vocational counselor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a vocational counselor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new vocational counselor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a vocational counselor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the vocational counselor you need to hire. Certain vocational counselor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect vocational counselor also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents vocational counselor salaries for various positions.

   Type of Vocational Counselor	Description	Hourly rate
   Vocational Counselor	School counselors help students develop academic and social skills and succeed in school. Career counselors assist people with the process of making career decisions by helping them develop skills or choose a career or educational program.	$14-24
   Counselor Internship	When it comes to Counselor Internship, among the primary responsibilities is to assist in dealing with various activities such as preparing and verifying necessary documentation, observing consultations and outreach programs, guide clients and help develop multiple helpful strategies, and provide assessments. Furthermore, one can conduct counseling and consultation only under supervision... Show more	$14-31
   Student Services Counselor	Student Services is a part of the school program that focuses on helping students in their studies. A Student Services Counselor handles this task and is the contact person for all students who need help or who have problems and issues requiring solutions and answers... Show more	$12-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Rehabilitation
   • Social Work
   • Mental Health
   • Community Resources
   • Substance Abuse
   • Vocational Assessments
   • Vocational Rehabilitation
   • Mental Illness
   • Independent Living
   • Employment Services
   • Social Services
   • Career Exploration
   • CPR
   • Competitive Employment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all program operation in accordance with HRA and industry regulations, agency policies, and HIPPA guidelines.
   • Direct vocational rehabilitation services to developmentally disable individuals.
   • Conduct eligibility determination process for applicants seeking vocational rehabilitation services.
   • Identify clients' transferable skills and aptitudes.
   • Help disabled veterans excel beyond their own expectations.
   • Convene individual participants to discuss and review DVE, IPE, and EP's.

   More vocational counselor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your vocational counselor job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A vocational counselor salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a vocational counselor in Alabama may be lower than in California, and an entry-level vocational counselor usually earns less than a senior-level vocational counselor. Additionally, a vocational counselor with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average vocational counselor salary

   $39,135yearly

   $18.81 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level vocational counselor salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average vocational counselor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$58,517	$28
   2	California	$56,461	$27
   3	California	$56,432	$27
   4	California	$56,132	$27
   5	California	$55,684	$27
   6	California	$55,462	$27
   7	Massachusetts	$52,473	$25
   8	Massachusetts	$52,470	$25
   9	District of Columbia	$49,055	$24
   10	Washington	$47,540	$23
   11	New York	$45,264	$22
   12	New York	$45,223	$22
   13	New York	$45,204	$22
   14	New York	$45,173	$22
   15	New York	$45,129	$22
   16	New York	$45,090	$22
   17	Connecticut	$44,959	$22
   18	New York	$44,771	$22
   19	New York	$44,119	$21
   20	Maryland	$41,339	$20

   Average vocational counselor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Lower Eastside Service Center	$44,777	$21.53	2
   2	The New England Center for Children	$43,101	$20.72
   3	Crawford & Company	$43,077	$20.71
   4	Anaheim Union High School District	$42,873	$20.61
   5	COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR AUTISTIC ADULTS	$42,475	$20.42	2
   6	Westcare Health Corporation	$42,475	$20.42
   7	The Arc Jefferson - St. Lawrence	$41,979	$20.18
   8	Comunilife	$41,672	$20.03	2
   9	My Florida Regional Mls	$41,439	$19.92
   10	Mental Health Center Of Denver	$41,402	$19.90	6
   11	Outreach Development	$40,349	$19.40	22
   12	Acacia Network	$40,221	$19.34	26
   13	SHASTA COUNTY	$39,210	$18.85	4
   14	Samaritan Daytop Village	$38,782	$18.65	50
   15	First Step Of Sarasota, Inc.	$38,647	$18.58
   16	Educational Alliance	$38,492	$18.51	11
   17	ICD - Institute for Career Development	$38,431	$18.48
   18	Enable	$37,186	$17.88
   19	Merakey	$36,051	$17.33	125
   20	Devereux Arizona	$35,143	$16.90	77

4. Writing a vocational counselor job description

   A good vocational counselor job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a vocational counselor job description:

   Vocational counselor job description example

   Monday: 1 PM - 7PM; Tuesday: 10 AM - 5PM; Wednesday: 10 AM - 5 PM.

   What You Will Do:

   · Insure ongoing vocational assessments are completed and accurate for all clients enrolled in program. Facilitate TABE testing for all clients enrolled.

   · Provide training and coordinate support services for clients enrolled in program.

   · Provide leadership and direction to ensure compliance with regard to tracking, reporting and outcome objectives, including ongoing internal review of service delivery.

   · Assist with coordination, training and support to staff at Brentwood.

   · Represent the program at agency and county levels as directed by the Site Director.

   · Implement vocational services and promote utilization of staff that serves to enhance program utilization, service delivery and workforce development for clients.

   · Ensure ongoing communication and engage in problem solving activities with Brentwood Site Director and program coordinators.

   · Initiate specialized projects, e.g., outreach, to promote access and utilization of vocational services.

   · Provide support and direction to vocational/educational staff to increase clients’ potential for employment.

   · Participate in program and staff meetings, where appropriate.

   · Provide vocational/educational case management services for clients.

   · Provide crisis intervention and group work services and back up coverage as needed.

   Who You Are:

   · Experience working in an outpatient program, 822 preferred

   · Advanced degree required; CRC, LMSW, LCSW, LMHC or higher preferred.

   · Limited permit or clinical master’s level candidate with relevant experience will be considered

   · 2-3 years of experience with substance abuse disorders

   · 1-2 years of experience working with clients with co-occurring and mental health problems

   · 1-2 years of experience working in in an OASAS funded facility a plus

   · Strong networking and public relations skills with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders, populations, and cultures.

   · Position is 18 hours per week, late afternoon/evening hours. The schedule is:

   Monday: 1 PM - 7PM; Tuesday: 10 AM - 5PM; Wednesday: 10 AM - 5 PM.

   At Outreach, we enjoy a strong work-life balance, excellent benefits, and ongoing professional training. Our enthusiastic employees love what they do and the positive impact they make every day. Outreach embraces diversity and promotes a workplace in which individual difference are recognized, appreciated and respected.

   Our employees are the reason Outreach ranks among the most respected health and human services providers in New York City and Long Island. In fact, we have been named one of the “Best Companies to Work for in New York” a total of nine times since 2010.

   Communities throughout Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island turn to Outreach for a vast array of treatment and training needs. We customize our services to increase our access to a wide range of individuals and groups including Families, Justice System, Aspiring Professionals, EAPs/MAPs and Community Members. Outreach’s treatment services are licensed by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) and employ best practices in line with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services’ (SAMHSA) indicators of quality treatment.

   An EEO employer, we enjoy exceptional workforce retention – many of our employees have been with Outreach for 10 years or more, some starting as part-timers and now working in full-time senior management.

   Adding to our outstanding benefits, some members of Outreach’s clinical and professional staff may be eligible for student loan forgiveness and repayment plans for persons working in public service, education, and health care, including the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plan, or the New York State Licensed Social Worker Loan Forgiveness (LSWLF) Program. Outreach’s NYC outpatient programs are also approved for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Substance Use Disorder Loan Repayment program, for eligible clinicians.

   Outreach embraces diversity and promotes a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated and respected.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find vocational counselors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any vocational counselors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level vocational counselors with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your vocational counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit vocational counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with vocational counselor candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new vocational counselor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the vocational counselor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new vocational counselor. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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